SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Oct. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Autodesk, Inc.
(Nasdaq: ADSK), announced today it has begun shipping Autodesk 3ds Max 8
software, the latest version of its award-winning 3D modeling, animation and
rendering solution. Created to address growing 3D pipeline complexity with new
data management, character animation and speed/performance advancements, 3ds
Max software is one of the industry's most popular solutions that help
customers realize their creative 3D ideas for game development, film and video
production and design visualization.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050415/SFF034LOGO )
3ds Max Subscription customer Epic Games, makers of the Unreal Engine 3,
which was recently chosen by Sony Computer Entertainment for its software
developer kit for the new PLAYSTATION 3, plans to benefit from 3ds Max 8 in
their production pipeline. "When our artists got their hands on the 3ds Max 8
beta, there was no turning back. The time savings from silver-bullet features
like Pelt Mapping meant that we immediately put the beta in production for
Gears of War and Unreal Tournament 2007," said Michael Capps, Ph.D.,
President, Epic Games. "We've been working with the 3ds Max team since the
Microsoft DOS days, collaborating on ways to make the Unreal Engine's content
pipeline more efficient. We dream up a few crazy features, and they turn
around a new version in no time."
Autodesk originally pioneered the concept of unlimited network rendering
with 3ds Max and Autodesk Backburner functionality. Now, Autodesk introduces
the industry's first scalable, unlimited mental ray network rendering option
specifically for 3ds Max. This proprietary addition gives valuable rendering
flexibility to customers using 3ds Max software. 3D artists can now
distribute 3ds Max rendering tasks (via Backburner) across a network using the
integrated mental ray renderer without incurring additional costs-allowing
them to scale their mental ray rendering resources to the limits of their
network or render farm capabilities.
All new features and enhancements in 3ds Max 8 address the needs of
animators tasked with meeting the demands of more sophisticated effects
projects, next-generation game consoles, and photo-real design visualizations.
Character Development features include: advanced rigging tools, motion mixing
and motion retargeting (non-linear animation). Modeling & Texturing
advancements include new UV pelt mapping, DirectX and .fx support.
Comprehensive Development Framework enhancements include improved software
developer kit (SDK) tools and documentation, XML support that efficiently
exchanges scene and animation data and an interactive MAXScript debugger along
with support for the Autodesk DWF Viewer, for simple collaborative review and
approval of 3D data. Complex Data and Asset Management advancements bring
continued connectivity to third-party asset management systems and integration
of the Autodesk Vault full-featured data management and asset-tracking
solution.
For a complete list of new 3ds Max 8 features, please visit:
http://www.autodesk.com/3dsmax/.
"This release of 3ds Max software brings significant productivity boosts
to our user base," said Marc Petit, vice president of product development and
operations at Autodesk Media and Entertainment division. "To that end, we're
very proud to also provide our customers with the extended flexibility of the
mental ray network rendering framework, adding great value to 3ds Max by
allowing our customers to freely scale their render farms and realize an even
greater cost of ownership advantage."
Pricing and Availability
Autodesk 3ds Max 8 software is now available in English through authorized
resellers worldwide. The suggested retail price for Autodesk 3ds Max 8
software in North America is US $3,495. The suggested retail price to upgrade
from 3ds Max 7 to 3ds Max 8 in North America is US $795.
3ds Max Subscription
The Autodesk suggested retail price for 3ds Max Subscription is US $440
per year and is available for purchase simultaneously with the product
purchase or upgrade. Subscription customers qualify for access to the latest
software updates, valuable product extensions and e-learning materials. For
more information about purchasing 3ds Max Subscription, contact an Autodesk
Authorized Reseller or visit http://www.Autodesk.com/subscription/.
** PRESS: Screen shots and images of 3ds Max 8 are available at the
Autodesk Media & Entertainment IMAGE LIBRARY at:
http://www.autodesk.com/3dsmax-imagelibrary
About Autodesk
Autodesk, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADSK) is wholly focused on ensuring that great
ideas are turned into reality. With six million users, Autodesk is the world's
leading software and services company for the building, manufacturing,
infrastructure, media and entertainment and wireless data services fields.
Autodesk's solutions help customers create, manage and share their data and
digital assets more effectively. As a result, customers turn ideas into
competitive advantage by becoming more productive, streamlining project
efficiency and maximizing profits.
Founded in 1982, Autodesk is headquartered in San Rafael, California. For
additional information about Autodesk, please visit www.autodesk.com.
Autodesk, 3ds Max and Backburner are registered trademarks or trademarks
of Autodesk, Inc., in the USA and/or other countries. mental ray is a
registered trademark of mental images GmbH licensed for use by Autodesk, Inc.
All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective
holders.
During the course of this communication, we may make forward-looking
statements regarding future events and the future performance of the Company.
These forward-looking statements are subject to assumptions, risks and
uncertainties, which are discussed in documents we file from time to time with
the SEC and specifically in our Annual Report and 10-K filed for the year
ended January 31, 2005. These documents contain and identify important factors
that may cause the actual results to differ from those contained in our
forward-looking statements.
Additionally, we may make statements regarding planned or future
development efforts for our existing or new products and services. These
statements are not intended to be a promise or guarantee of future delivery of
products, services or features but merely reflect our current plans, which may
change. Purchasing decisions should not be made based upon reliance on these
statements.
The Company assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking
statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist or change
after the date on which they were made.
Contact: Kevin G. Clark, (415) 547-2457
Email: kevin.g.clark@autodesk.com

SOURCE Autodesk, Inc.

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Oct. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Autodesk, Inc.
(Nasdaq: ADSK), announced today it has begun shipping Autodesk 3ds Max 8
software, the latest version of its award-winning 3D modeling, animation and
rendering solution. Created to address growing 3D pipeline complexity with new
data management, character animation and speed/performance advancements, 3ds
Max software is one of the industry's most popular solutions that help
customers realize their creative 3D ideas for game development, film and video
production and design visualization.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050415/SFF034LOGO )
3ds Max Subscription customer Epic Games, makers of the Unreal Engine 3,
which was recently chosen by Sony Computer Entertainment for its software
developer kit for the new PLAYSTATION 3, plans to benefit from 3ds Max 8 in
their production pipeline. "When our artists got their hands on the 3ds Max 8
beta, there was no turning back. The time savings from silver-bullet features
like Pelt Mapping meant that we immediately put the beta in production for
Gears of War and Unreal Tournament 2007," said Michael Capps, Ph.D.,
President, Epic Games. "We've been working with the 3ds Max team since the
Microsoft DOS days, collaborating on ways to make the Unreal Engine's content
pipeline more efficient. We dream up a few crazy features, and they turn
around a new version in no time."
Autodesk originally pioneered the concept of unlimited network rendering
with 3ds Max and Autodesk Backburner functionality. Now, Autodesk introduces
the industry's first scalable, unlimited mental ray network rendering option
specifically for 3ds Max. This proprietary addition gives valuable rendering
flexibility to customers using 3ds Max software. 3D artists can now
distribute 3ds Max rendering tasks (via Backburner) across a network using the
integrated mental ray renderer without incurring additional costs-allowing
them to scale their mental ray rendering resources to the limits of their
network or render farm capabilities.
All new features and enhancements in 3ds Max 8 address the needs of
animators tasked with meeting the demands of more sophisticated effects
projects, next-generation game consoles, and photo-real design visualizations.
Character Development features include: advanced rigging tools, motion mixing
and motion retargeting (non-linear animation). Modeling & Texturing
advancements include new UV pelt mapping, DirectX and .fx support.
Comprehensive Development Framework enhancements include improved software
developer kit (SDK) tools and documentation, XML support that efficiently
exchanges scene and animation data and an interactive MAXScript debugger along
with support for the Autodesk DWF Viewer, for simple collaborative review and
approval of 3D data. Complex Data and Asset Management advancements bring
continued connectivity to third-party asset management systems and integration
of the Autodesk Vault full-featured data management and asset-tracking
solution.
For a complete list of new 3ds Max 8 features, please visit:
http://www.autodesk.com/3dsmax/.
"This release of 3ds Max software brings significant productivity boosts
to our user base," said Marc Petit, vice president of product development and
operations at Autodesk Media and Entertainment division. "To that end, we're
very proud to also provide our customers with the extended flexibility of the
mental ray network rendering framework, adding great value to 3ds Max by
allowing our customers to freely scale their render farms and realize an even
greater cost of ownership advantage."
Pricing and Availability
Autodesk 3ds Max 8 software is now available in English through authorized
resellers worldwide. The suggested retail price for Autodesk 3ds Max 8
software in North America is US $3,495. The suggested retail price to upgrade
from 3ds Max 7 to 3ds Max 8 in North America is US $795.
3ds Max Subscription
The Autodesk suggested retail price for 3ds Max Subscription is US $440
per year and is available for purchase simultaneously with the product
purchase or upgrade. Subscription customers qualify for access to the latest
software updates, valuable product extensions and e-learning materials. For
more information about purchasing 3ds Max Subscription, contact an Autodesk
Authorized Reseller or visit http://www.Autodesk.com/subscription/.
** PRESS: Screen shots and images of 3ds Max 8 are available at the
Autodesk Media & Entertainment IMAGE LIBRARY at:
http://www.autodesk.com/3dsmax-imagelibrary
About Autodesk
Autodesk, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADSK) is wholly focused on ensuring that great
ideas are turned into reality. With six million users, Autodesk is the world's
leading software and services company for the building, manufacturing,
infrastructure, media and entertainment and wireless data services fields.
Autodesk's solutions help customers create, manage and share their data and
digital assets more effectively. As a result, customers turn ideas into
competitive advantage by becoming more productive, streamlining project
efficiency and maximizing profits.
Founded in 1982, Autodesk is headquartered in San Rafael, California. For
additional information about Autodesk, please visit www.autodesk.com.
Autodesk, 3ds Max and Backburner are registered trademarks or trademarks
of Autodesk, Inc., in the USA and/or other countries. mental ray is a
registered trademark of mental images GmbH licensed for use by Autodesk, Inc.
All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective
holders.
During the course of this communication, we may make forward-looking
statements regarding future events and the future performance of the Company.
These forward-looking statements are subject to assumptions, risks and
uncertainties, which are discussed in documents we file from time to time with
the SEC and specifically in our Annual Report and 10-K filed for the year
ended January 31, 2005. These documents contain and identify important factors
that may cause the actual results to differ from those contained in our
forward-looking statements.
Additionally, we may make statements regarding planned or future
development efforts for our existing or new products and services. These
statements are not intended to be a promise or guarantee of future delivery of
products, services or features but merely reflect our current plans, which may
change. Purchasing decisions should not be made based upon reliance on these
statements.
The Company assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking
statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist or change
after the date on which they were made.
Contact: Kevin G. Clark, (415) 547-2457
Email: kevin.g.clark@autodesk.com
SOURCE Autodesk, Inc.